Awarded in April 2017, this program is funded through a $1.9 million grant from the United State Department of Defense (DoD)Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA). North Carolina will use the grant from the DoD to devise a plan to help lessen the impacts of defense cuts resulting from the 2011 Budget Control Act. Data on defense spending collected by the DoD OEA for Fiscal Year 2015 show that prime defense contracting activity in North Carolina has decreased by more than $1 billion since 2011.

In commenting on the grant, Governor Roy Cooper said “We’re proud to be the most military-friendly state in the nation and recognize that the businesses and people supporting our men and women in uniform are an economic engine across North Carolina. Therefore, it is crucial that we take steps to create jobs and encourage businesses to grow throughout our military communities.”

“North Carolina is proud to be the home to so many businesses and people who work to support our military,” Secretary Larry Hall said. “The defense sector is the second largest driver for North Carolina’s economy, and this grant can help these businesses find new ways to thrive in our state.”

The NC Defense Industry Diversification Initiative will conduct an analysis with the goal of helping vulnerable companies pursue alternative markets or find other methods to reduce their dependence on the DoD and, in doing so, lessen economic risk to the state. The initiative seeks to ensure that the defense supply chain remains robust, so that it is able to quickly absorb sudden high demands from Department of Defense agencies.

The NC DIDI Pilot Project is open for application submissions until September 1st, 2017. Applications as well as criteria for the Pilot Project can be found on the website at www.NCDIDI.com.

Cherry Point, NC: Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT), a group that advocates for the growth and continued success of MCAS Cherry Point, Fleet Readiness Center East and their civilian enterprises, welcomes Larry D. Hall of Durham as the new Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The appointment was made January 13 by Governor Roy Cooper at the executive mansion in Raleigh. Secretary Hall was sworn into office on January 16. Until then, he served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He replaces Cornell Wilson, who stepped down from office on December 31, as the Department’s Secretary.

ACT President and Mayor of the City of Havelock, Will Lewis, stated, “ACT looks forward to working with the new Secretary on Cherry Point priorities. I am confident that our local delegation to the Military Affairs Commission also welcomes Secretary Hall.”

Lewis was grateful for Cornell Wilson’s service, stating, “General Wilson was a tremendous ally in our effort to protect and grow MCAS Cherry Point and FRC East. We appreciate his dedication to the State and commitment to the military and veterans.”

“Based on my experience, I am confident that the Cherry Point community and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will work hard to ensure a smooth transition as Secretary Hall takes the helm,” said Marc Finlayson, ACT’s managing consultant.

Lewis added, “We invite Secretary Hall to meet with ACT and tour Cherry Point as soon as he can. We will be working with his staff to build our relationship and commitment to Cherry Point.”

Rep. Hall has served in the North Carolina House of Representatives as the member from North Carolina’s 29th House district, Durham, North Carolina, since 2006. He was first appointed to the position in 2006 by then-Governor Mike Easley. In the legislature, Hall was a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and served as the Democratic leader in the House from 2009-2016. He will resign from the House before assuming his new post.

Rep. Hall is no stranger to issues important to military families and former service members. He grew up at Fort Bragg while his father served in the Army. After graduating with a B.S. with Honors in Political Science and Business from Johnson C. Smith University and a J.D. from the School of Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he served 16 years in the United States Marines and the Marine Corps Reserves and also served in the support of the Operations in the Middle East in Lebanon and Iran.

Rep. Hall has been awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, the Marine Corps Reserve Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Citation from the United States Marine Corps.

####

About Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow
Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT) advocates for the existence and success of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Fleet Readiness Center East and its civilian enterprises. Board members include leaders from Craven, Carteret, Pamlico, and Jones Counties who work closely with Congressional and legislative delegations to push for laws and budget appropriations that will help preserve and grow MCAS Cherry Point—a base crucial to the success of the U.S. military and the economy of the region. For more information, call (252) 631-5021 or visit www.alliesforcherrypoint.com.

PLEASE NOTE

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by ACT of non-ACT websites or the information, products, or services contained therein. ACT does not exercise editorial control over information on external websites. Such links are provided for your convenience only.